Inland Fisheries

The Inland Fisheries Division is responsible for managing the state's diverse freshwater fisheries resources. The goal of this management is to provide the best possible angling while protecting and enhancing freshwater aquatic resources. The resources include approximately 800 public impoundments covering 1.7 million acres and 191,000 miles of rivers and streams. These resources are used by about 1.8 million anglers 16 years of age and older whose fishing activities provide great benefit to the Texas economy through an estimated $2.38 billion per year in direct angler spending on food, lodging, transportation and equipment.

The division's activities include fisheries management and research, ecosystem and habitat assessment, instream flow and river studies, fish production, fish kill assessments, environmental contaminant analysis, natural resources damage recovery, wetlands conservation, permitting, angler education and information, and fishing access. Division staff are located in Austin, San Marcos, three regional offices, 15 district offices, one research center, and five fish hatcheries. This includes the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens, which combines a state-of-the-art fish hatchery with an educational visitors' center.